A former Commissioner for Public Utilities in Ebonyi state and the chairman of the Ebonyi State Council of Elders, Benjamin Okah, has claimed that it was the turn of the Ebonyi North Senatorial District, to produce a minister under the current administration of President Bola Tinubu, but cede the position to former Governor David Umahi.
Okah who stated this while speaking with journalists in Abakaliki, the state capital of Ebonyi State, said the position was ceded to Umahi because of his efforts during the last election and the strong conviction they have in him that he will deliver the quality infrastructures that Nigeria needs and the believe that he will not disappoint the Southeast region of the country.
He stated that there will not be an issue of the “Abuja Group” in the state anymore, noting that there will be a strong synergy between Umahi and Governor Francis Nwifiru, to effect development in Ebonyi State.
“Ebonyi Central senatorial zone ought to have produced the minister, but former governor, David Umahi, worked very hard during the last general election; that’s why he was given a Grade One minister,” Okah said.
While commending President Tinubu for considering Umahi as the first Igbo man to emerge as Minister of Works, Okah called on the President to give more ministerial appointments to the Southeast geopolitical zone, noting that it was unfair that the region got only five ministerial slots while others produced eight to eleven ministers.
“Nigerians will see a great difference in terms of delivering quality infrastructural development, especially roads, under David Umahi as Minister of Works.
“Igbos have always performed very well in every ministry given to them. We are not happy that only five ministerial positions were given to the Southeast.
“We believe that President Tinubu will consider Southeast in other major appointments,” he added.